Looking up!

On November 15, 2015November 9, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn Photograph, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Just look at these clouds! What a wonderful blue sky, the dark trees and the puffy rows of clouds…

I took this photo one day on our morning walk…

If it’s not a sunrise or sunset it’s a cloud that I’m snapping a photo of. This reminds me of being a kid…

Did you plop down in the grass and just look up at the sky? It’s like nature TV!

Don’t lose sight of the little things in life. Be grateful for what you have WHEN YOU HAVE IT. None of us will live forever, so make every day count.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Trick or treat…

On October 31, 2015October 31, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTSLeave a comment

HaPpY HaLlOwEeN!

Hee hee… Happy Halloween to you and yours! What do you usually do on Halloween? Take your kids trick or treating? Stay home and pass out candy? Go to a party?

Take this quick poll!

Also…

Daylight Savings Time ends tonight! So before you go to bed, set your clocks BACK one hour.

So yippee, we gain an hour of sleep tonight!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Happy Birthday to my better half… Fred!

On October 28, 2015October 20, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS4 Comments

This photo was taken on Monhegan at Pulpit Rock (which you cannot actually see in this photo)… this is one of our favorite places on the island. To just sit and be… to listen to the quiet that is so loud to me, because I don’t hear quiet THAT quiet. Peaceful. Lovely. The fresh air, the scenic shoreline, the happy times of relaxing, hiking, visiting with friends…

Today I am wishing the happiest of birthdays to my other half, my better half… my husband, Fred! I’m happy that he caught up with me (age-wise) –

Fred, if I could buy you the perfect gift I would fly you back to Monhegan where we would sit right where you are on this rock. But, for now, we’ll go with memories… and cake!

Thank you for being the sweetest man in the world and I love you more than you can ever imagine!

❤️🎂🎉😍❤️

Catch you back here tomorrow!

You know it’s fall when…

On October 10, 2015October 10, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTSLeave a comment

You know fall is in the air when you start seeing mums for sale. Costco has huge pots of them. I don’t usually buy them because it doesn’t seem like they last long here in Charleston. When we were in Maine, The Island Inn (Monhegan) was planting flowers, mums and some other various plants and they were just beautiful. I loved the color of their mums, not yellow, more of a pinky color, just beautiful!

I am thrilled that cooler air is upon us! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Life the way it should be… not “perfect Maine”, just life, the way it should be…

On October 7, 2015October 7, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn Maine, THOUGHTS, TRAVEL4 Comments

Monhegan. Maine. Can’t get either place (Monhegan… or Maine) off of my mind. Of course I say that only being there in the fall. Never in the summer or winter… so, that’s like visiting Charleston when it’s not hot, humid and packed with people. I know that. But have you ever had a feeling that you were supposed to be somewhere? Where it was so hard to leave that it just didn’t feel right? That’s Maine for us. But our short time there gets us through. We aren’t talking “perfect Maine” that you see all over town, just real life Maine… We feel fortunate to be able to keep in touch with the rest of our extended family that all feels the same way!

I have family that also feels that way. They love Maine just as much as we do. This is a photo of my mom hiking in Cathedral Woods (Monhegan) years ago. I love this photo! Well… today is my mom’s birthday, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! Hop on a plane and come to Charleston, hee hee… we can celebrate! Have the best birthday ever!

Do you have a place that pulls you back time after time? Let me know!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Stamps from the machine at the post office… Yay USPS!

On October 6, 2015October 2, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTSLeave a comment

I wrote a post several years ago about the stamps I purchased from the machine inside the post office. Wow, have things ever changed.

These are recent stamps from that very same machine. They don’t look like they’ve been printed in someone’s basement, ha ha… these look more like REAL stamps! Woohoo! Thought that post deserved an update ;)

On another note, can you believe it’s already October? Wow, time flies!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

An October Sunflower…

On October 4, 2015September 10, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn Photograph, THOUGHTS2 Comments

Can you believe it’s already October? Time flies! We used to be the young people in the neighborhood, now we’re the older ones. It’s crazy how fast that happens! So, enjoy every moment. Run out and do a random act of kindness, I guarantee you will be the one that feels so good!

Happy Sunday! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Does your dog eat too quickly? A Quick Fix!

On September 22, 2015September 22, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Does your dog wolf their food down? Or do you have a dog eats at a nice leisurely pace? Well, for those of us with the dogs who eat too quickly (which can cause problems) – Here is a quick tip!

I was researching different dog bowls/dishes, they make some that make it more difficult for your pet to get to the food which in turn slows down their eating. They aren’t cheap, but apparently they are effective. While checking into the dog dishes I ran across a hot tip.

PUT A SPOON IN THE DISH.

What? I truly didn’t think that would work, but guess what? IT WORKS! Charlie doesn’t like the noise, which is ok, he works through it, and quickly became used to it. We had stopped for a while because he was eating at a normal pace. He just started the eating-fast situation again, so we’re back to the spoon :)

I love when there is a solution that doesn’t cost a lot! Catch you back here tomorrow!

The Freshest Farmers Market – Monhegan!

On September 15, 2015September 10, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Maine, Photograph, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Veggies so fresh they were literally JUST PICKED within moments of appearing on the tables! I couldn’t believe my eyes. As quickly as it was picked & placed on the table it was sold. Quite amazing! To taste food made from veggies just plucked, whew! It makes a difference!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Cool cabin… Monhegan (Maine)!

On September 14, 2015September 10, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn Maine, Photograph, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

This photo is from a while back, I love it. The door on the left is so striking against the gray weathered shingles and the window above with the flower – so sweet. Years ago a friend of ours rented this cottage. If you’re looking for a place of your own to rent while on Monhegan, there are many cottages to chose from. Plan ahead!

Check out the Stanley Apartment | Brackett Rentals website… great photos!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

In a hurry for dinner? Here’s a trick!

On September 8, 2015September 1, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, THOUGHTS4 Comments

Whole Foods (and many other stores) sell their homemade pizza that you can take home and bake… we buy a small pizza and split it. It IS small, but if you buy the cheese pizza and add sliced mushrooms and/or veggies and a nice salad it fills you up! I just added a few handfuls of arugula, sliced cucumber, radish and a sprinkle of dill and olive oil! No bad ingredients, and it’s indulgent yet healthy!

We keep one in the freezer, take it out that morning, and it’s perfect!

What is a quick/healthy meal that you can whip up when things are busy?

Catch you back here tomorrow!

A special day! Hearts and Crosses by artist Barbara Biel…

On September 5, 2015September 1, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist, Lifestyle, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Barbara Biel creates these amazing hearts and crosses and they are stunning! ESD (Elizabeth Stuart Design) in Mount Pleasant, SC has carried them for quite a while.

Both are perfect for this day… friends are getting married today, woot! Woot!

Kate & Hamp…

Congratulations you two, may God bless you both today and for the rest of your lives!

Happy Day!

xoxo, barbara, fred & charlie!

Last Day of August… and one last hot tip…

On August 31, 2015August 18, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn Photograph, THOUGHTS2 Comments

Ahhh, coffee iced cubes. These things got us through the hot summer months! Take your leftover coffee and refrigerate it (and pour some in an ice cube tray and freeze to make cubes). What a refreshing drink, and the cubes don’t dilute the coffee.

WIN * WIN !

I am finding it hard to believe that it’s already the end of August. TIME FLIES! Frighteningly fast! Normally summer drags on with the heat and humidity. This year was much better! The mosquitoes weren’t as bad, which meant we could use the pool, that helps immensely! We also had to replace our unit (AC/Heat) and WOW is this one ever nice! It’s so quiet but pumps out the cool air! It’s been a pleasure! We can’t complain our other unit was 20++++

Enjoy your last day of August! Catch you back here tomorrow!

View from the Dining Room of the Island Inn (Monhegan) – my favorite place!

On August 30, 2015August 18, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn Maine, Photograph, THOUGHTS, TRAVEL4 Comments

I love this view! Can it be any more charming or scenic? This is the view from our table at the Island Inn Dining Room… a wonderful place to be. If you haven’t visited Monhegan before, you may want to add it to your bucket list. The food served in the dining room is some of the best on the planet! Truly! The Island Inn is a fabulous place to stay while you’re on the island.

It just doesn’t get better!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Low dew point and sunny skies = time to spend outdoors!

On August 29, 2015August 18, 2015 By Barbara StroudIn Photograph, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

We have had several weekends that have turned out to be so nice, warm but without the usual humidity that makes you stay indoors! We really enjoy our backyard during those days! Those are days to catch up on reading and spending time with Charlie… In this photo I ran in the house for something and he sat there patiently waiting. Notice he sits on the cushion and not the ground, sigh… You’ve trained us well Charlie!

Enjoy your weekend! Catch you back here tomorrow!